As for Barcelona, the club finishes with the most convincing victory of the season, 5-0 away triumph over Alaves. This is only the second time since 2008 that we haven't contested the title race until the very last day. In 2012 Real sealed the title with two games left, just like now in 2020. In 2017 they won it on the final day and in 2014 Atlético held us to a draw when we needed a win to beat them to La Liga in the title deciding match on the last day. The remaining 8 La Liga seasons in this time frame were won by Barcelona, only two of them on the final day - 2010 and 2016.
These numbers are a testament to how great Barcelona have been domestically and the reason why not being on top of Spain even for a year is quite a disappointment. But now more than ever there is a need to reflect and be self critical, because other than Camp Nou games in the first half of the season, this has been a season to forget both in terms of results and performances. Leo summed up it up perfectly in a recent interview that Barcelona are a weak, unstable team that gets beaten by intensity and determination and concedes easily, with the impression that they need to concede a goal in order to step up and play properly, but sometimes by then it's going to be too late. The club will face Napoli in the Champions League in 20 days, after drawing 1-1 in Italy. It could be our final match of the season, it could be one of the remaining four. Who knows. Due to the current state Barcelona are among underdogs rather than favorites, so a bad result can be forgiven. But bad attitude won't. The boys better use these three weeks to regroup the best possible.
He's never excluded himself from the players criticism, even now when he participated in around 80% of the club goals since Setien arrived. La Liga legacy of our captain has now grown even more.
With 25 goals for this season, Leo has finished the season as the top goalscorer in Spain's biggest competition. Nothing surprising, and not even a high number by his standards, though he missed a few games. But why is this one special?
The Pichichi trophy is given by Marca to the top goalscorer of the season. Bilbao's legendary striker Telmo Zarra held the record of 6 of these accolades since 1953. Until today. After 2009-10, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19, La Pulga has won a record breaking seventh Pichichi trophy in 2019-20. In the meantime, he has tied Hugo Sánchez's and Alfredo Di Stéfano's record of four consecutive Pichichis too.
He also registered a 21st assist of the season today, breaking Xavi's record of 20 in 2008-09. He outperformed one of the best ever midfielders in his biggest virtue, and now holds the single-season and all-time record for both scoring and creating goals in our league.
A first ever double-20 in La Liga history as well, recording at least 20 goals and assists in the same season, and second to do this in any top league in this century alongside Thierry Henry in 2002-03.
And with today's brace, he is only ten away from Pele's record of most goals for a single club. The official countdown can begin. 643 looked untouchable for decades but now it's a matter of when, not if. Apart from wanting a change in Barcelona's board, extending Leo's contract is the thing I am praying for the most next season. Immense contributions every season for well over a decade.
